62 REPTILES AND BATRACHIANS. 



itself the day after it came into my possession, suddenly rising on 

 its legs and puffing itself enormously, a most ridiculous spectacle, 

 more like a puff-ball, or a toadstool than a toad. It was, I think, 

 because I was going to take it up, or because, being as yet a 

 stranger, my presence and attentions were unwelcome. At the 

 same time it exuded the cutaneous secretion which is its sole pro- 

 tection, and which is like a sudden and violent sweating, proving 

 a thoroughly effective barrier under which to entrench itself. One 

 could only watch it at a respectful distance. It presently subsided 

 into its usual position, and made cautious steps for a hiding- 

 place. Only on that occasion did I ever see it rise on its legs, 

 quadruped fashion ; and only for the first few days was there any 

 perspiring moisture on its head or body if I attempted to touch it. 

 Afterwards, with but one exception presently to be related, it was 

 always dry and clean. This exudation is owing to glandular 

 secretions, glands being generally present in the integument. 

 There are two large ones behind the eyes, parotid glands, which 

 abundantly emit this acrid, viscous fluid, also along the sides and 

 on the posterior extremities ; the entire body, however, becomes 

 suddenly moistened with this acrid secretion, which is extremely 

 unpleasant to other animals, and though not actually venomous, 

 is, to a certain extent, irritating, particularly to the stomach. Birds 

 have been known to die after swallowing toads ; even snakes will 

 not eat them by choice, though at the Reptilium, when other food 

 runs short, they will, if very hungry, accept a toad. 



It is this sudden sweating, so to 'speak, of an unpleasant secre- 

 tion, which has gained for the toad the reputation of being 

 "venomous," and brought upon it universal disgust and oppro- 

 brium. Even among the intelligent, it is viewed with prejudice. 

 But its only means of protection lying in this, and in its capability 

 of concealing itself, and its life being really of important use in its 

 vast consumption of creatures injurious to vegetation, this self- 

 protecting habit should be regarded as one of those great economic 

 principles in the beneficent ordering of things by which the 

 balance of nature is maintained. 



Toads begin life in all respects like the frog ; once leaving the 

 water becoming altogether land animals. When fully matured 

 they return to the water during the breeding season, and only 

 then. The eggs are laid in a long chain, and the tadpoles are a 

 trifle smaller and darker than frogs. 



Many accounts of toads being easily tamed are recorded ; of 

 their taking food from the hand, or catching a fly on the window 

 pane while held, and so forth. Alas ! all my efforts at taming 

 to that extent have been unsuccessful. Probably my " Toadums " 



